| Buying any piece of fitness equipment is | | | | backup and warranties with their |
| an investment in your health, which is | | | | products. A light commercial elliptical |
| great. However there are a number of | | | | trainer is going to set you back between |
| factors to consider when purchasing | | | | £1000 & £3000 whereas a commercial |
| fitness equipment. I've outlined a few | | | | elliptical trainer may be anything from |
| points which I think are important when | | | | £3000 to £5000. |
| purchasing an elliptical trainer. | | | | How much room do you have to store the |
| Elliptical trainers also known as | | | | elliptical trainer? |
| crosstrainers first entered the market | | | | Always measure how much room you have |
| in 1995 and have been in constant | | | | available before purchasing an |
| development since. Reebok introduced the | | | | elliptical trainer, remember they are |
| first elliptical trainer with moving | | | | larger pieces of equipment. An |
| arms giving the user a lower and upper | | | | elliptical trainer has to be able to |
| body workout. Elliptical trainers have | | | | withstand the weight of a human, which |
| become so popular because: | | | | as we know can vary enormously, so they |
| • Low impact exercise, which is | | | | can be rather bulky. All good websites |
| gentle on backs, knees, hips and joints. | | | | or retailers will be able to provide you |
| • Weight bearing exercise that | | | | with the dimensions of the elliptical |
| helps build bone density and burns | | | | trainer your interested in. |
| calories efficiently. | | | | Which brand? |
| • Suitable for a large range of | | | | With so many options it's difficult to |
| training needs. | | | | know which brand to opt for. Personally |
| • Low maintenance, keeping costs | | | | I would suggest selecting a brand which |
| down. | | | | provides a good warranty. If a product |
| • Smaller in size than a treadmill. | | | | has a good warranty then generally you |
| How much are you willing to spend, | | | | can be fairly confident that the |
| budget? | | | | manufacturer is confident in the quality |
| As with most things generally but not | | | | of their product. Brands which I've |
| always the more you spend on an | | | | tested and prefer include Tunturi, |
| elliptical trainer the more you get. | | | | Reebok, Bremshey, Nautilus, Trimmaster |
| With fitness equipment there are three | | | | Life Fitness, and Schwinn. |
| categories, home equipment, light | | | | What are programmes and how do they |
| commercial equipment and commercial | | | | benefit me? |
| equipment. Home equipment is designed | | | | It is often difficult to motivate |
| for home users and it generally suitable | | | | yourself when you're often using the |
| for an hours use per day, light | | | | same routine! Purchasing an elliptical |
| commercial equipment is designed for the | | | | trainer with programmes maybe the |
| demanding home user and small gyms | | | | answer. Having pre-set or even |
| situated within offices and hotels. | | | | customisable workout programmes is a |
| Light commercial equipment is generally | | | | great way to provide some extra variety |
| suitable for up to 5 hours use a day. | | | | and motivation. Some of the more |
| Commercial equipment is designed for | | | | expensive crosstrainers now offer heart |
| gyms and is designed to be suitable for | | | | rate controlled programmes which using |
| 18 hours use a day. | | | | your heart rate, increase or decrease |
| In my opinion £250 upwards will buy you | | | | the resistance of the crosstrainer |
| a reasonable quality home elliptical | | | | keeping your heart rate as close as |
| trainer, try and avoid unbranded | | | | possible to the pre-set rate. This is a |
| equipment and look for brands such as | | | | safe way to exercise and can help with |
| Tunturi and Reebok who provide service | | | | weight loss. |